Wheel of the Year: Prepare for *Mabon* Mabon is the wiccan name for autumn equinox. It is a relatively recent term for the neopagan festival celebrated generally around 21 st of September. This is the second of the three harvest festivals; a cross-quarter day midway between Lughnasadh and Samhain. HISTORY: The First Thanksgiving was held on or near this date, and it is from these early harvest festivals that the modern Thanksgiving feasts developed. This is a time rich in history, legend, and tradition, honored throughout the world, from the Far East to the Celtic lands, and from the Scandinavian countries to South America. At this time of equal day and night, we give thanks for the harvest that will sustain us through the dark winter months.Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth. Other names are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia. The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter’s Night, which is the Norse New Year. We prepare for Samhain, Celtic New Year. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection. MEANING: second harvest, mysteries, equality, balance SYMBOLS: wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines (such as ivy), cloves, cinnamon, dried seeds, horns PLANTS: acorn, apple, aster, benzoin, cedar, chamomile, corn, frankincense, gourds, grapes, hazel, hops, ivy, milkweed, myrrh, nuts, pine, pomegranate, pumpkin, roses, rue, saffron, sage, solomon’s seal, sunflower, thistle, tobacco, wheat, yarrow FOOD: breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, vegetables (such as potatoes), carrots, onions INCENSE: cinnamon, myrrh, sage COLORS: red, orange, maroon, yellow, brown, gold, indigo, violet STONES: amber, citrine, golden topaz, tiger eye, cat’s eye, amethyst, lapis lazuli, sapphire ANIMALS: turkey vulture, blackbird, stag, owl, eagle, salmon, pig, wolf, snake, butterfly ACTIVITIES: making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over SPELLS: harmony, balance, protection, prosperity, security, self-confidence, joy, peace, wisdom, meditation, success, will DEITIES: Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Demeter, Pomona, Venus, Adonis, Dionysus, Bacchus, Hathor, Osiris, Isis, Dumuzi, Inanna, archangel Michael, Freyja, Freyr, Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Cernunnos, Hermes, Dagda, Arawn, Ceridwen, The Green Man MAKE YOUR INCENSE: Incense Blessing Sacred herbs Children ofthe Land Bring us the blessings of the harvest season. Mabon Incense 2 parts frankincense 1 part myrrh 1 part juniper 1 part pine Autumn Equinox Smudge 2 parts sweetgrass 1
part cedar 1 part sage 1 part juniper 1 part rosemary Alban Elfed Incense 3 parts willow 2 parts jasmine 1 part pine 1 part apple wood Mabon: Celebrating the autumn equinox by Kristin Madden ~ Blessed be ~